Mimi na Juma tunatumia jembe shambani.

Juma and I use a hoe on the farm.

Breakdown of Mimi na Juma tunatumia jembe shambani.

• mimi: I
• Juma: Juma
• kwenye: at
• na: and
• kutumia: to use
• shamba: the farm
• jembe: the hoe

Questions & Answers about Mimi na Juma tunatumia jembe shambani.

What does Mimi na Juma mean in this sentence?

It translates as "Juma and I". The phrase is a compound subject indicating that both the speaker (Mimi) and Juma are carrying out the action in the sentence.

Why is the verb tunatumia used instead of natumia?

The verb tunatumia is conjugated in the first person plural form. Since the subject is compound (referring to "Juma and I", or "we"), the prefix tu- is used to show agreement with a plural subject. This is why kutumia (to use) becomes tunatumia.

What does the word jembe mean, and what role does it play in the sentence?

The word jembe means "hoe", which is a tool used in farming. In the sentence, it functions as the direct object of the verb tunatumia, specifying what is being used by the subjects.

What is the significance of shambani in this sentence?

Shambani is the locative form of "shamba", meaning "farm" or "field". The suffix -ni is attached to shamba to indicate location, so shambani tells us where the action—using the hoe—is taking place.

Why does the sentence not include articles like "a" or "the" before jembe?

Swahili does not have articles such as "a" or "the". Nouns are generally used without them, and context is relied upon to convey any definiteness or indefiniteness. Thus, jembe stands alone without an article.